White Tigers: Conserving a Lie

This week Advocacy for Animals is pleased to publish this article by Sharyn Beach, a librarian, writer, and Big Cat Rescue volunteer, on a common but misguided notion of conservation and its tragic consequences for the lives of white tigers. (For more information about Big Cat Rescue, see Advocacy‘s articles Big Cat Rescue and Big Cat Bailout.)

Conservation?

Kenny, a white tiger with deformities—courtesy Big Cat Rescue.

Conservation. It is a word that we hear and repeat often. Ubiquitous in the media, it often conjures up a warm feeling, but as a concept conservation is largely misunderstood. Most of us view it solely in terms of individual species: if the number of animals of a certain species is sufficiently great, particularly if it is a species that we happen to like or find charismatic, “conservation” has been achieved, and we may check it off our collective to-do list. Upon closer inspection, though, we see that this conclusion is fundamentally flawed and is not only not preventing endangerment and extinction but is often leaving a trail of suffering in its wake.

The basic problem is that this limited view of conservation fails to consider the big picture—namely, the habitat in which the species that we are trying to save from extinction lives, on which it depends for its survival, and in which each animal makes a unique and significant contribution. It fails to consider the complex interrelationships between species and living systems and lulls us into believing that, as long as we have enough animals living in cages, we need do nothing about the destruction of the places they once called home; nor need we consider how certain animals do or do not fit into those places.

Perhaps no other single species embodies the conservation issue more than the tiger. Sleek and graceful, powerful and exotic, the tiger is the very definition of “charismatic mega fauna,” yet their numbers in the wild have dropped more than 95 percent in just 100 years. We respond intensely to the bold orange-and-black felines, and sometimes even more so to the almost mystical white tiger. Their ghostly white appearance and searing blue eyes are difficult to ignore. Because we are fascinated with things we consider to be rare—like gold—we value the white tiger for its rarity, and find a ready rationalization for perpetuating its existence by simply engaging one, perhaps now meaningless, word: conservation. If orange-and-black tigers are facing such a gloomy future in the wild, then, we conclude, surely the rare white tiger is in the most trouble: it could be the “poster child” for the wreckage that the reckless attitudes of human beings have left in what we used to call wild places.

But if there is any issue for which the white tiger is a poster child, it is our faulty understanding of conservation. The headlines are all too familiar: this zoo or that performer is breeding white tigers to save them from extinction and restore them to their native habitats. The media and the public adore such stories, but the heartwarming and short-lived nature of today’s news belies the real story that will surface for the white tiger cubs tomorrow. The truth is difficult for many people to accept. White tigers are not a species and do not have a native habitat. Tigers do not inhabit any section of the globe in which it would be advantageous for their survival to be white.

A Question of Biology

Kenny, a white tiger with deformities—courtesy Big Cat Rescue.

What we call the “royal” white tiger is in fact a genetic anomaly, caused by a double recessive gene occurring so rarely in nature that experts estimate that only one in every 10,000 tigers born in the wild is white. This anomaly, called “leucism,” prevents the pigment from coloring the skin and fur and, more importantly, robs the animal of a main tool for survival—camouflage. Without proper coloring, the ambush technique upon which tigers depend for catching food is seriously compromised. If anyone were foolish enough to attempt to release a white tiger into any habitat that tigers normally occupy, there is a good chance it would starve to death. Dr. Dan Laughlin, an international consultant on the care of zoological animals, stated it well in “The White Tiger Fraud,” an article written for the Web site of Big Cat Rescue: “when a deleterious recessive genetic mutation randomly occurs that is disadvantageous for the survival of the animal, such as white color in a tropical jungle environment, the animal does not survive to pass on that genetic mutation or disadvantageous characteristic to its offspring” (italics added). In other words, cruel as it may sound, nature does not provide a place for the white tiger.

If nature is designed to prevent the survival of genetic mutations that are a danger to the survival of an entire species, then why do we see white tigers in zoos and circuses across the United States? The answer is simple: they are produced by inbreeding. In an essay published on the Web site of Save the Tiger Fund, Ron Tilson, conservation director of the Minnesota Zoo, writes: “to produce white tigers or any other phenotypic curiosity, directors of zoos and facilities must continuously inbreed, father to daughter, to granddaughter, and so on.” According to Laughlin, in addition to the now famous and severely inbred line of white Bengal tigers that can be traced back to Mohan, a white tiger taken as a cub out of the wild in 1951 and bred back to his daughter and grand-daughters, “a second and separate origin of the white tiger … occurred spontaneously in two separate private collections in [the United States], when both owners inbred brothers to sisters.” Experts agree that genetic diversity is vital to the health of both individuals and entire populations of species. The most critically endangered felines, such as the South China tiger and the Amur leopard, are considered to be functionally extinct by some experts because with numbers as low as 20 or 30, inbreeding is inevitable. Yet in the case of the white tiger, the breeding of mothers to sons and fathers to daughters is commonplace. And there is a price to be paid for it.

White tigers endure a host of health problems about which the public is largely unaware, including immune system deficiencies that cause many to live miserable and short lives, scoliosis of the spine, hip dysplasia, neurological disorders, cleft palates, and protruding, bulging eyes. Many are stillborn and many more turn out to be too deformed to display. Among the ones that look pretty, according to some tiger trainers, only one in 30 will consistently perform.

At this point someone must face the question rarely asked by the reporters who happily recounted the birth of the white-tiger cubs: what now? What happens to the 29 out of 30 white tigers that were too dull and sick to perform? We know that they could not have been, and will never be, released into the wild. The lucky ones will find permanent homes in accredited sanctuaries, but the majority will either be killed or sold to traveling zoos, circuses, and wildlife centers, living lives in quarters that are often cramped, filthy, and rarely inspected.

There is yet another side to this sad story. What becomes of the orange-and-black cubs (by far the majority) born to parents who were specifically paired to render the desirable white coloring? Their fate will most likely include becoming victims of canned hunts, being sold into the exotic pet trade to live out their lives as breeding animals, or being killed and dismembered, their parts shipped to markets in Asia (see the Advocacy for Animals article Fighting for Tigers). Virtually none of them will join their wild counterparts for the purpose of repopulating their severely dwindling numbers. They will never see the wild lands from which their forebears were taken.

Taking Responsibility

Meanwhile, healthy, wild tigers, able to engage in the activities for which tigers were designed, disappear at alarming rates. Just 100 years ago, there were approximately 100,000 tigers living in the wild; some experts estimate that fewer than 3,500 individuals roam the forests of our world today. Three subspecies of tigers are gone forever, and the South China tiger is well on its way to joining their ranks.

If the relentless breeding of white tigers has nothing to do with conservation, and the resulting animals are sick and doomed to life in a cage, then why do people continue to breed them? We do not have to look far to find the answer. The trade in white tigers is lucrative. White tiger cubs have fetched as much as $60,000 a piece. According to Tilson, “white tigers are an aberration artificially bred and proliferated by a few zoos, private breeders, and circus folks, who do this for economic rather than conservation reasons.” Countless thousands of dollars pass through the hands of those who trade these animals like a commodity—countless thousands that do nothing to stop the poaching of wild tigers, do nothing to stave off the destruction of wild tiger habitats, and serve only to keep dignified creatures behind bars. Do we really value genetic mutations more than the habitat in which healthy wild tigers live and thrive?

Laughlin believes that “the genealogical misrepresentation, repeated inbreeding, exhibition and sale … of white tigers … initiated the greatest conservation deception of the American public in history.” The insidiousness of this deception is that the heartwarming stories of individual cubs being born again and again creates the illusion that we are doing something. It creates the illusion that the so-called experts are solving the problems that we create with our own complacency.

It is time to face the issue squarely. There can be no conservation of species without conservation of habitats, and there can be no conservation of habitats without conservation of entire ecosystems; therefore, we are accountable for how our actions affect those ecosystems, in every choice that we make. Conservation. It is not about the white tiger. It is about us.

Will our fascination with tigers give them back the dignified, free life that they had earned by surviving every hardship nature threw at them before we came along? Or will we be satisfied that we have done our job by having enough of them living in cages, performing tricks, and dazzling us with genetic deformities we would never dream of perpetuating in humans? If we choose the second option, then there is one more reality that we must be willing to accept. If we pull animals that we like out of the sinking ship that is their destroyed habitat, put them in cages, and call it a day, every single species that we do not find charismatic goes down with that ship. And with them go clues that could unlock the mysteries of the natural world—along with answers to questions that we perhaps no longer deem fundamental, because we have so thoroughly removed ourselves from that world. It begs one of those fundamental questions: if we can’t let other creatures assume their own roles in the broader ecosystem, how can we assume ours?

Very nicely written, but kindly tell us about this gorgeous animal! Even with his odd looking face, he’s still a beautiful creature, and he looks healthy. It’s hard to imagine he’s really real though, because we’re not shown the tragedy of this type of breeding. Can someone provide more info on him, please?

I agree with you KinKStar! I think Kenny is beautiful! I even made his pictures my laptop background for my desktop! I just cant get enough of this BEAUTIFUL tiger! He looks so kind and cute! I’d like to hear more about him!

” I think Kenny is beautiful! I even made his pictures my laptop background for my desktop! I just cant get enough of this BEAUTIFUL tiger!”

*facepalm*

And of the hundreds of Kennys, deliberate products of inbreeding created as freaks of nature, who were born even more deformed and so couldn’t survive their birth or their first days or months of life? Out of fairness, don’t you want to include picture of their grossly misshapen and deformed dead carcasses on your desktop wallpaper?

FFS, instead of deliberately breeding these pathetic creatures, why don’t zoos just get a make-up artist armed with colourant and blue contacts to pimp a handful of real tigers – that would probably satisfy imbeciles such as the above without being quite so cruel.

is this a joke? you people are morons. regardless of how the animal looks it likely has neurological deficits and the long list of other problems that were mentioned that give the animal no quality of life when it already had little. the problem is people like you thinking that because its beautiful that you can sacrifice the well being of the animal for it. i usually don’t care much about things like this but christ woman how much more easily could the writer spell it out for you?

Agreed. Imagine what would happen if a mother bred with her son, or a father with his daughter. And imagine if this kept happening for many, many generations. Odds are, the offspring are going to be genetic nightmares. Not only is this practice disgusting, it’s incredibly cruel for the animals.

Disgusting. Incest is disgusting? Not that i am having relations with my family members, but most people in this world came from some kind of incest. A lot of animals do it. It’s convenient. The royal Egyptians and royal Hawaiians all practiced incest to keep the royalty and the wealth ‘in the family’. Plus, if you are a religious person, then aren’t we all related by Adam and Eve? If you are more scientific, then haven’t you heard that mitochondrial DNA can trace us back to an African woman? We have grown apart from before when incest was popular, so much that genetically, diseases would be more likely still, but wouldn’t have as much impact as one would think. Cruelty to animals is a large stretch to what this would be called. They have sex to reproduce. They don’t care who it is, brother, father, cousin, stranger.

As far as I’m concerned, incest is disgusting, the very notion of having intercourse with a parent or sibling disgusts me. Of course things have changed since “Adam and Eve”! I understand what you’re saying about the animals though. Incest with animals is completely different than with people.

If you do a little research, you would see that most of the royal families that bred incestuously did not survive. The reason is the deformities and the damage that can do. Without adding fresh ‘blood’ so-to-speak into the blood-line, you end up with negative results like the deformities, lowered life span, and reduced mental capacities. Inbreeding has a tendency to emphasize the negative genes more than the positive ones.

Dude. You don’t think it’s gross? I am a christian and i do believe about Adam and Eve but DUDE SERIOUSLY. Are you saying that if you were forced to live in a small, dirty little cage, and forced to reproduce with your mother, or sister, that you’d be fine with that? How about if you found out that your dadwas reproducing with your sister? What would you say? How about if he told you he liked it? Would you find it gross then? How about if your sister said SHE liked it? That’s what I thought. Try having a little empathy next time before you post stupid comments.

In answer to your question, I believe Kenny is now deceased. He was in a Big Cat Refuge here in Arkansas, along with a couple of other white tigers. The big male, Conway, is also now deceased and I think they still have the female, Loretta. I painted a picture of Conway a few years ago, which may be seen on my website: http://art-and-portraits-by-margaret.com The Big Cat Refuge has a website at: http://www.turpentinecreek.org/

Kenny is deceased, but he was never at BCR, he was taken in at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge- Big Cat Rescue and Turpentine Creek are separate (but both very reputable and educational) rescues for big cats, and a few other wild/exotic animals.

I just wanted to stand up and applaud out loud after reading your article Sharyn. You said it better than it has ever been said before. I also want to thank Britannica for making this forum visible to so many people who might otherwise never have thought twice about the ultimate ramifications of paying to have their photo made with a tiger cub or paying to see one in a circus or zoo.

The white tiger in the photo was named Kenny and has since died. I have seen far worse in breeding facilities with teeth growing out the sides of their mouths, clubbed feet and eyes bulging out of their sockets and placed out on their noses. The public never sees the hundreds of cats behind the scenes and it is much like the puppy mill industry in that respect.

How do you know Kenny died? And who cares about those other animals that seem “WORSE” to you! Care about Kenny too! I think he’s beautiful and i love him! God blessed him with a gift, DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER! Same thing to beautiful Tigers and creatures like Kenny! Hes the most beautifulest thing ive seen in my whole life! GOD BLESS KENNY AND CREATURES LIKE HIM!

Of course we care about them. But don’t you think having teeth growing out of the sides of your mouth is an inconvenience to them? I doubt they live longer as other tigers even in the care of zoos. They certainly don’t have the same chance as others living in the wild; if your read the article you would have seen that it cannot be camouflaged like the others.
Anyway, we shouldn’t be breeding tigers or any animals at all! They’re like puppy mills! They deserve to live outside, in the places they are native to. Yes, we should care for them because they deserve life, but this needs to stop. These should be the LAST white tigers.

@Julia God did not bless him with a gift. He was created by men pretending to be gods that don’t give a crap about another’s well being. Would you want to create a living being, knowing full well that he/she is bound for nothing but suffering? What kind of person would want that? Human beings stick their noses where they don’t belong. I often think of what Jeff Goldblums character said in Jurassic Park..” Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should” and there is plenty we shouldn’t being doing.

The sentiment that Kenny was a lovely animal despite his disabilities is very kindly meant, I’m sure. But look at his teeth, for example, and you’ll see what human greed has wrought. This animal would never be a viable predator in the wild with teeth like that.

Thank you for the exceedingly well-written article, Sharyn. If only more people knew the truth behind these animals existence. From what I have read about Kenny, he did have the equivalent of Downs Syndrome.

I, being a tiger lover and lover of all animals for that matter, am very happy to see an article like this. For years, I was deceived as I’m sure most people are, about white tigers (T.I.G.E.R.S. has white tigers and lies about “conserving” them). Thanks to Big Cat Rescue I found out the truth several years ago. I’m not sure if Busch Gardens rescues the white tigers that they have or breeds them, but if they do breed them I will NEVER go there again and support such despicable acts against nature. If only someone could have the places (zoos) shut down that still breed them. Thank you for the wonderfully written article.

Sharyn,
I read your article and was not at all surprised that White Tigers are the “mythical” creatures that man has continued to create. In other words, while the Tiger, itself, is not a myth, the idea that it is a perfect or royal specimen IS. Even in humans, there are recessive genes. To exploit a gene pool simply to create an animal because it appears to be “rare” or “elegant” is a great mistreatment of the animal. People are quick to point out that gene manipulation in humans may have grave consequences, yet these same people may be the ones who want to see more White Tigers. I did an independent survey among people I know and was not at all surprised that they answered that a White Tiger is from Siberia because it is white. We know this is not truly the case. The only natural habitat that would support a White Tiger in the wild (in regards to its coloring) would be a snow-filled environment that supplied the proper nutrition and support to the animal’s life — yet White Tigers are not necessarily living in these places. Zoos frequently add “snowy” scenery to these animals’ cages/enclosures that then propagate the public’s idea of White Tigers living in the snow. We know from your article that this is an absolute FABRICATION! White Tigers are stunning! Their blue eyes look into ours and we are mesmerized. But, those who know the truth about them also feel the heartache. These animals will never know true happiness in their lives in the wild. These animals have only human interaction to look forward to in order to survive. The message that in-breeding Tigers in order to create a white coat and blue eyes is IRRESPONSIBLE animal management. It is cruel. If one loves Tigers, you would do better to support real conservation of habitats that enable the Tiger to remain in its natural state. Recessive gene or not, it is really a better conservation commitment to allow White Tigers to be a natural occurrence in the wild and not try to create it. Either the wild Tiger will survive and adapt, or it will not. However, its life in the wild and a natural habitat is a much better choice than a cage in a zoo or park where it must entertain our fascination with its differences from its golden-colored relatives.

Many thanks for a well-researched, fact-filled, and lavishly illustrated article. Everyone who claims to “love white tigers” should read this. Everyone who cares about tigers of any kind, and/or felidae, needs to get their facts straight, so as to educate others; this is an excellent reference point.

My heart hurts looking at Kenny. But thank God he found his way to BigCatRescue.

Thank you for the info Carole. Yes, I’m more sure everyday that we don’t know all that goes on behind the scenes when it comes to such money making operations. That’s why it’s been so hard to stop the worldwide animal abuses – because of the money. People simply lose their perspective when there’s mo’money to be made off of innocent creatures.

This was a wonderful article! I never knew the real reason for white tigers. But I’m a little confused..? In other web sites they claim that the first white tiger was discovered in the wild and caught. Mohan was caught in 1951 and it is said that all white tigers are descended from him? Is this all accurate information?

Thank you for writing what I have been trying to put into words since I first heard about white tigers from the Ron Tilson article years ago. Please continue with your efforts. Everyone needs to know what goes on behind the scenes. If you haven’t written it already a “Liger” article would be a wonderful thing for folks to read as well.

Yes, Kimmy, Mohan was caught in 1951 and was bred back to his daughters and grand-daughters, and very many of the white tigers living in captivity can be traced back to him. What Dr. Laughlin points out is that there is an additional lineage that can be traced back to 2 privately held collections of Bengals and Siberians that were also inbred. None of this is to say that white tigers never occur in the wild, and in that sense they are in fact natural. The point is that there is no reason to force more of them into existence, because the cause of their whiteness is a disadvantageous genetic anomaly. This is what I think you are getting at, if I understand your question correctly.

I just want to clarify that Kenny never lived at Big Cat Rescue; he lived at a sanctuary in Arkansas and has since passed away. His picture is featured to illustrate the characteristics that the public so rarely ever see.

Thank you for telling us the truth about the white tigers. But I feel sad and very upset because these ignorant and greedy people are free to do whatever and are not stop by any authority. They are affecting not only the future of these poor animals, but the environment, and the governent won’t stop them. This is very unfair and sad to me.

Hi many thanks for providing such a valuable information.I am working for melghat tiger reserve in India for the tiger conservation,but even the forest officials there are not supporting peoples who are willing to work for the conservation program by their own…..TIGERS ARE ON A WAY TO BECOME NEXT DIANOSAURS!!!!!!!!!!

Hilary:
Sorry, you are WRONG:
There is NO SNOWY HABITAT for white tigers…and so they are usually killed by their mothers because they have NO CAMOFLAUGE in the natural habitat and would put all others at risk!

Snow leopards are NOT tigers nor are they from the same geographic area. They do have fur that camoflauges them in the snowy mountain regions.

Please educate yourself on the various feline species before commenting incorrectly.

You are right Merrill, though there is SOME evidence of white tigers existing in the wild, though NEVER because of the territory and/or camouflage requirements, but an anomaly. Like you said, the mothers abandon them (kill and/or eat them) as any would do to protect herself and the other cubs.

Thank you for this startling information on the white tiger. I would have never have guessed that the white tiger was not a tiger species and was in fact an inbred animal. I feel so sorry for Kenny and all the other white tigers, that are hidden from the public. Its not right what some people do for greed, and its such a shame aswel as they are beautiful animals that sadly dont belong here. I will never look at a white tiger the same again.

This was an amazing article. I learned all of this information on inbreeding when I visited Big Cat Rescue.
I think when things happen like Kenny that it shows the world exactly how inhumane humans can be. Profit has become more important than simple respect for life. I am just happy that Kenny and all the other abused, neglected, and inbred animals that have suffered in vane and finally passed, are resting in peace.
We all need an education people! Big Cat Rescue is only one place to get it but we all need to make an effort to cease the destruction of their native land and to stop the useless breeding, selling and trading of these beautiful and gracious creatures.

Inbreeding in many animals will often create gorgeous colors, but inbreeding always deteriorates the creature’s health.. I am amazed so many people did not realize the white tiger is merely a color mutation. For example, I am going to school for Vet. Tech, and i remember our teacher talking to us about it, and saying a silver hamster will go for $150 dollars.. no joke. I hadn’t even know such things existed.. KinKStar, did you even look at his teeth? Hilary, like Merrill said, leopards and tigers are two completely different animals, who live in different geographical locations.. There are many different breeds of tigers, and many different breeds of leopards. I love tigers, and have many tiger shirts. When most people see them they say I love white tigers, and i always inform them on the sad truth behind the color mutation..

I was already aware that white tigers were not a breed, but a color variant, but I am always pleased to see informative articles to help educate the public about these issues.

Inbreeding can cause so many problems and completely contradicts conservation by removing other alleles for things that are not visible, such as those related to immune function or ability to deal with certain changes to the environment.

People recognize that when the Nazis tried to “breed” only the color variants of blond haired, blue eyed people, while destroying those they deemed unsuitable, that it was wrong, why do they not see that it can apply to non-humans as well? On a global scale, humans are the only species to recognize that we are causing the mass extinction of many species, yet the majority of people do nothing to stop it. On a smaller scale the abuse of individual animals for these breeding mills is completely appalling. The governments of so many different countries need to step up and put in better legislature regarding the abuse of animals and the trade of exotics.

For a few years I worked at the Cango Wildlife Ranch, Oudtshoorn, South Africa. Their biggest attraction – white tigers. I remember being mesmerized by their strange colouration and I also remember the yearning with which they looked at me. Not being one to back down or accept inadequate answers, I strove to find out more about why the CWR was breeding these creatures and also why they had skin problems; the male tiger had very little fur on his rear. Again and again I was told that they were endangered. Again and again I found no evidence of adult white tigers existing in the wild. One fact did start to stir anger within my being – they were being bred for profit. December and January are the peak months of tourism in South Africa and breeding would be pushed to ensure that tiger cubs (white and royal) would be available to the many visitors moving through the park at this time. I am not sure what appalled me more, the excessive breeding of these unfortunate creatures or the abuse they suffered from UNTRAINED staff and visitors alike. Phantom pregnancies were not uncommon and fatality was occupational risk. Never was conservation the focus, yet this was the lie I told countless times to those requesting answers on my tours.

A great truth was exposed to me when a child inquired of me why and how I chose to subject myself to such lies. I am grateful for this as it was soon after this question that I asked more questions and finally left due to being shunned for my wish to know more. I recall referring to CWR as a pet shop – the first tigers bred there landed themselves in a ZOO! – and being told, indirectly, that such statements were not to be tolerated. My question is simply, why?

Please, before visiting any zoo or park or ranch or whatever term a facility may choose, do your homework. Find out what breeding is happening and why it is happening. See if visitors are invited to interact with the animals – many of the animals subjected to this injustice find themselves in canned hunts once they are too big or too old.

Remember, we are also animals. Guns gave us power, but remove the cruel means by which we have tamed these beasts and we will again find ourselves at a lower point of the food chain!

I watched a program the other night on NatGeo Wild about a woman who made it her life’s work to breed white tigers to release “back” into the area they were originally found. I am so angry about this woman – can’t remember her name – and what she’s doing! This entire situation infuriates me, breeding white lions while the few remaining natural tigers slide into extinction…..

Well written and very interesting read! It’s linked to what I had been discussing with a friend a few days ago as to the conservation of pandas, a slightly different topic I realise, but in relation to the concept of us putting conservation efforts towards the species we like best.
Nicely said Sharyn

I never knew the horrible things that happen to these tigers. I knew white wasn’t a natural color for them, but how the breeders keep the cycle going is disgusting. And the poor deformed animals! Such neglect for the well being of an animal. The power of the almighty dollar is what’s working here. It should be against the the law to breed white tigers. Fine the breeders and put the money toward conserving the orange tiger. Thanks for sharing your article. I’ve passed this info on to my children. We need to start informing our young children so that in their lifetime this injustice of such beautiful animals can be corrected.

man that tiger is ugly and by the way scientific research has shown that a white tiger pair that is unrelated and set free in a climate covered with snow will successfully hunt reproduce and therefore survive.

Thanks so much, your article raised my interest and awareness about the infamous white tigers. I truly wasn’t aware that its a genetic mutation and is hazardous to the species’ survival. Different thing though, I never fancied looking at any caged animal as much as watching them live in their natural habitats.

> “we are accountable for how our actions affect those ecosystems, in every choice that we make”

To that, only one thing comes to mind. Yes, we are accountable as a collective, and will have to pay a huge price, more than any human can count. The sad thing is those who are actually responsible for the crimes will probably be the last ones to go down.

Yeah, the breeding of white tigers has absolutely nothing to do with conservation by anyone who is concerned with conservation. Your article is way off base, the people that breed white tigers aren’t good people, it’s the black market. White tigers end up in zoos, and rescue facilities because idiots buy them thinking they can handle a tiger and it is “pretty”. The abundance of tigers in america isn’t people breeding them for conservation, it is people breeding them because they think it would be cool to have a tiger, so they irrationally buy them.

Zoos do not breed white tigers, and no one who breeds white tigers think they are doing it for conservation. The plight of white tigers is a result of the black market, and people not understanding what it takes to actually own a tiger, or even worse when the cubs are bred just so they can do photo shoots, and then disregarded.

I enjoyed your article but I feel like its a bit misleading in some regards. Inbreeding and the efforts at producing more white tigers are bad. But I feel as if your article gives the illusion that all conservation efforts are as misguided as those done by people seeking to grow the numbers of white tigers.

And just to be clear, all three tigers in the photos you included are the same one right? It’s amazing how bizarre the tiger looks, I swore the third one was a different animal.

Yes, all three of the photos are of Kenny, a tiger who was housed at a sanctuary in Missouri, I believe. He has since passed away, along with most of his family
I don’t think that the author wanted to convey that all conservation efforts are misguided, just that human beings tend to follow media hype that says, “We’re conserving stuff!” without knowing what is actually going on with the species. The white tiger mutation is similar to the chocolate Labrador mutation. Much like white tigers, Labrador retrievers come in black and yellow “naturally” (even though they are a man made breed). The chocolate color variation comes from inbreeding. Although it is not nearly as much of a problem for the dogs as it is for tigers because there is such a wide range of dogs to breed with (limiting the defects that come with inbreeding) it makes you wonder about how far human beings need to go to have control over “God’s creations”. If you want a Labrador for hunting, does it matter if they are brown instead of black or yellow?
What the author was trying to get across is that human beings will inherently push their limits of control, despite the adverse affects it has on a species (or even a group of humans).
Humans are naturally curious. We love things that are rare and beautiful. Combine the two and you get poor Kenny, who, although the sanctuary he called home tried to make him as comfortable as possible, probably lived a rather miserable life.

I’m, looking for work, I will work for room and board as long as I can work with animals. This is not a joke,,I am very serious. All I want to do is work with animals, somehow someway, please give me a chance. thank you, diane …… dianehughes81555@msn.com

This is awful. Sigfreid/ Roy and all the other breeder of these cats should be put out of business. As long as the so called “Secret Garden of S/R” exists, these cats will be exploited. For one of my college projects in biology, I looked extensively at this issue. Unfortunately, there are tigers like Kenny. The rest of them- I have seen several white tigers- they ALL have signs of neurological problems, joint issues, some have bad teeth, it’s awful. A copy of this article should be forwarded to the Attourney General of Nevada, and those Sigfried and Roy people shut down.

Without exxagerating ,this is truly a gr8 piece of info. I had no idea that white tiger mutation cud cause so much harm to these poor fellows. That they are a genetic aberration,this i was sure of ,since I am a student of science. And that human beings wud definitely find a way to utilise other’s illness to their own advantage ,this I surely know of also.

All zoos which feature white tigers really should have an information placard put up explaining some of these basic facts.

It’s sick-making, the things man does in the name of greed, but on the other hand it’s heartening that there are so many wonderful people out there using their own time and resources in most cases to take in and care for these poor animals when things go so horribly wrong.

Imagine if Kenny were a person. He has a genetic anomaly, and okay you still find him cute, but since the abnormality isn’t just physical, he can’t function well, can’t express what he needs, can’t learn like normal children, and therefore can’t survive on his own for all his life. Although the tiger is fed, given water, safe in a cage, he still suffers.

I think that it was not right for the man to try to go and kill the tiger. How come its okay for humans to hunt, kill, and eat aiamnls and nobody says anything about it but if an animal does so much as touch a human everybody goes against the animal. I mean how do you expect aiamnls not to try and kill humans when humans do it to them every day. The tiger is just trying to live it’s life.

Great article touching on a subject that most people would be oblivious to, and not out of stupidity either. Frankly, there’s a lot of information to take in every day of any life, and when we here so much about white tiger conservation, why would a reasonable person think to check if it’s legitimate?

That said, to all the, “He’s so beautiful” people… Actually, you know what? if you actually read this article and are getting upset that people didn’t find Kenny gorgeous, there’s really no point in addressing you. [edited to remove ad hominem statements against other commenters.] I do believe in God, and I believe he has a special section of hell set aside for those who would do to his creation what these breeders are doing to tigers.

I think that humans shulod not be able to pass any animal’s territory. Would YOU like it if a stranger walked in to YOUR house and start touching all of YOUR stuff? I know I wouldn’t like it at all! I also dislike how people think that tigers are bad for eating people. I admitt it isn’t nice but we kill animals all the time for our own survival. I think the tiger was simply trying to survive.

This is awful. Sigfreid/ Roy and all the other breeder of these cats should be put out of business. As long as the so called “Secret Garden of S/R” exists, these cats will be exploited. For one of my college projects in biology, I looked extensively at this issue. Unfortunately, there are tigers like Kenny. The rest of them- I have seen several white tigers- they ALL have signs of neurological problems, joint issues, some have bad teeth, it’s awful. A copy of this article should be forwarded to the Attourney General of Nevada, and those Sigfried and Roy people shut down.

What a great article – a real eye-opener for many people, I’m sure.
All zoos which feature white tigers really should have an information placard put up explaining some of these basic facts.
It’s sick-making, the things man does in the name of greed, but on the other hand it’s heartening that there are so many wonderful people out there using their own time and resources in most cases to take in and care for these poor animals when things go so horribly wrong.
Bless the people at Big Cat Rescue.

Thank you so much, Sharyn, for this wonderful article.
People don’t seem to realize when they become fascinated by “ligers,” “tigons” and all manner of inbreeding in the big cat kingdom that in essence, they are supporting to deliberately create in these majestic creatures the equivalent of giving humans painful, debilitating recessive gene disorders – blood disorders like hemophilia, pain due to structural assymetry in the face, teeth and limbs, severely depressed immune system dysfunction, just to name a few.
As heartbreaking as this “fantasy world” breeding for zoos/circuses/colour is – truly humankind at its worst – the care being taken of Kenny is so heartwarming. Thank you to those caring for Kenny, for he would surely never survive in the wild, and his expressions in the photos shows how well he is loved and cared for.

I found this article by chance when looking for white tiger images. I thought that the white tiger was a rare (but still present) wild creature (in Bengal perhaps?). It seems I was wrong in my assumption. The article is excellent as it draws attention to these hidden activities of breeders (breeding white tigers for financial gain and not for conservation reasons). So thank you!

I had no idea such inbreeding issues cause these animals such suffering. My question is — “what can I/we all do to help”.

Can we petition our governments to set and enforce stricter laws on all of these breeding establishments? It seems to me we need to start some kind of petition website perhaps (if it does not already exist?) so people can show their support for the prevention of any such breeding programs. I for one would be glad to cast my vote (and in fact Id be glad to host a petition form on my web server).

I don’t think that anyone can argue the fact that you have done an excellent job writing this article and as far as these tigers are concern, these are one of the few animals that I like a lot and it is very sad to know that such things have happened to these white tigers that you have mentioned in your post and to all other tigers all over the world. I wish that doctors and scientists come up with some kind of solution for these kind of diseases in near future.

kenny is cute in his own, unique way. some one I know read this and thought that he should be put to sleep. I disagree. Any and EVERY animal deserves a chance at life. any one who thinks otherwise can go to hell. I agree with amazed as well. 7 out of 10 people in this world are morons. but we need them to make life more interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damning people to hell and calling them morons. You seem like a lovely person to be around. As for being put down, if this tiger was out in the wild, it would have been killed, either by starvation (from not being able to blend into it’s surroundings) or by it’s mother. Inbreeding animals is not interesting. It is cruel and just plain wrong. Only 1 in 4 tiger cubs from a white tiger bred to an orange tiger carrying the white gene are born white, and 80% of those die from birth defects associated with the inbreeding necessary to cause a white coat. You’re one sick person if you support this. More white tigers are murdered because of birth defects than the ones who actually live.

I found a picture of Kenny on my facebook page. I knew that white tigers were bred selectively, but I didn’t know that they were inbred to such a degree. I didn’t know that tigers were put through so much, and how many of them came out like Kenny. It now hurts my heart to think of them suffering like that, and to think of the internal abnormalities that still occur in the “beautiful” ones. They have lives that are so… horrific, for the sake of human amusement. This article really opened up my eyes on the subject, and now I want to do more research on white tigers, and see the ones that are never seen by the public. I pray for all the big cats that are being bred for entertainment.

Ugh. The cruelty to these tigers…frankly, it makes me sick. And to compare the human race’s past incest to this is ridiculous. Incest in any form will have genetic repercussions eventually. But to take a beautiful creature and INTENTIONALLY inbreed it for superficial reasons that won’t benefit the species? Way to take advantage of people, media and breeders! Humans suck. Officially. As far as how “cute” Kenny was, he was beautiful and what was done to him is awful. I would hope though, that people wouldn’t support the continuation of this cruelty because of one animal’s appealing looks. I personally can see that he was a sweet soul, but he should never have been subjected to this kind of life.

Well, the inbreeding is disgusting. I’ve known and seen white tigers with physical deformities..makes me wanna cry. I like when white tigers occur randomly in nature not because of humans creating more issues by inbreeding these poor things..just shortens the population. Unfortunately, people all over the United States abuse every majestic wild cat you can think of..there’s several places rescuing them. The Big Cat Wildlife Rescue is the best place I know..there’s a few around the country. Just conserve every big cat, don’t inbreed them. Let them breed naturally if they can (: They wouldn’t inbreed you would they?

I just had an unpleasant discussion about white tigers. One guy shared a link about eight white tigers being born in zoo. I really tried my best to prove that that isn’t a miracle, or something beautiful. I shared some pages like bigcatrescue and some articles that say white tigers are products of human evil and hungry for money brain. But in the end, he understood me as a person who doesn’t even like animals and denies this beautiful ‘historic’ moment that is and should be felt as joyful. In other words I acomplished nothing, and it makes me very sad because I failed to change his opinion about ‘cool’ white tigers. I just feel helpless, so I guess we need to try more intensively to raise awareness about this problem, trough researches, documentaries.

I think you did well! You may not have changed his mind right there, but you gave him something to think about. Sometimes that’s enough to get people to question their assumptions. Maybe next time he sees a “great” story about white tigers, he’ll remember your discussion and what you said. 🙂 Thanks for speaking up.

This text is amazing it has given me alot to process about these amazing wonders Kenny is beautiful in his own ways 🙂
I am doing an assignment on white bengal tigers for my HSC trials and I will be proudly showing the class what and hjow many of they proceduers can go wrong with incest breeding.
I have to honestly say though it is slack what people are doing to these beautiful creatures I mean incest breeding is a bad thing to me because you never know what type of disformities some of the animals can come out with….
It really is sad knowing that these creatures are being kept in cages all there lives and not being able to hunt in the wild or getting killed for selling purposes, it really is heartbreaking seeing animals in cages…..

Do you want one? If so, why, and how will you take care of it? It should be illegal. Can you not see, from reading this article–assuming that you have–why breeding and acquiring wild animals just because you like them is a problem for the animals?

I love you for fighting this kenny. I love tigers with all of my heart and life and for you to come through this and survive as a tiger, i think your the coolest inbreed tiger that i have ever seen or heard about. I love you keeny <3<3<3

I had no idea this was going on. It is amazing to me that we can all be so fooled by media. This topic needs to be brought to the attention of more people. There must be something we can do to help stop it. People would be outraged is this was being done to human beings. I will be sure to show this to my children. It’s time we all shake the wool from our eyes and stand up for those who can not do it for themselves.

Beautifully written piece. It has been my life’s biggest heartbreak at the very core of my being to see what humans are doing to this amazing planet we share with all of it’s amazing creatures. Earth is heaven. Perhaps it is the greatest irony ever that we spent the charmed time we were given in this magical place fighting over who the real God is somewhere above us in an imaginary heaven while we ignore and ruin the heaven that has been right before us the entire time. Very sad, indeed.

What an amazing and informational article. I am sickened by the tiger trade and how few remain in the wild. While I strongly disagree with inbreeding, I can’t help but love Kenny from these pictures. That doesn’t mean I agree with hia circumstances that lead to his deformities. It doesn’t mean I think inbreeding Oscar ok because “he’s so cute.” It breaks my heart that such acts go on and I can’t even think about the ones who weren’t “cute” as a result of their inbreeding. Tigers are some of the most majestic creatures in the world and himans are on their way to eradicating them forever and it literally breaks my heart.

Those writing that Kenny had his own beauty despite his disabilities are to be commended for their kind hearts and open minds. But let’s not miss the big picture. Empathy for disabled individuals is good, but it has absolutely nothing to do with how wrong it is to intentionally create more disabled individuals by forcing them to inbreed.

I can’t believe the nerve of some people. If you want to talk about Adam and Eve and how there involved incest then do it some were else. But show some respect, this person went out of her way to get this message across and some of you just completely disregard it like it’s garbage, and some of you are completely missing the point, so what if some one says that the picture of Kenny is cute and beautiful, I think it’s cute and does it affect all of you that mock the people that think he’s cute … no it doesn’t. So if your not going to show some respect for those people then just shut up. At least they care, and if you take time out of your day just to mock people, then I feel sorry for you. Like I said at least they care that’s more than most would do in this situation. So what they might not see the big picture it doesn’t effect you so why do you bother. Tigers have been my favorite animal since I was really young, so when some thing like this comes up it makes me sad, yes I think that incest is wrong but given the circumstances of the situation at hand it is in a way necessary for the species survival. No I don’t think that we as humans should start doing it but yes in the tigers case I think it’s kind of required for them to survive. And I think that if there is a better way for them to reproduce that some one should look into it.

But putting all of that aside I felt that the article was very inspiring and now I want to do some thing about it, I was also very touched by this article. And here’s a shocker for all of you, this whole ramble of my feelings, one might think that this is coming from some wise old person… right. Wrong I’m only a teenagers. Bet you didn’t see that coming.

Cj, unfortunately, I think you have missed the point of the article. It is not arguing for the survival of “white tigers.” It is saying that they are not an endangered species; they are a type of tiger that does occur in the wild but most of them exist because they are deliberately bred by people who are invested (financially) in their continuing to exist in greater numbers than occur naturally. That is why it’s subtitled “Conserving a Lie.”

Ok maybe I did miss the point,but people still shouldn’t be arguing about religion and wether Adam and Eve were involved in incest on this site. It’s not what the site was intended for so why use it that way.

I am happy to read a sensible article about tigers in captivity.
Tigers are not toys, they don’t come in all colours, pink, green or white just to please us. Artificially favouring the birth of animals with mutations is fully irresponsible indeed.
Subspecies such a the Java tiger and Caspian tiger have already vanished. It is high time to try to preserve the remaining subspecies in the wild and support serious breeding programs in captivity if it can help. A white tiger would have NO chance of survival in the wild.

Just yesterday I participated in the March for Lions at the Big Cat Rescue and am so thankful for the opportunity and to have come across this article today! (I can’t stop looking at pictures of big cats because of how beautiful they are) There is NO REASON to purposely breed any animal at a zoo, circus, conservation, sanctuary, or in the hands of some numskull looking for a profit. Pets are not for profit, and wild animals are not for pleasure! Even if white tigers are prominent in any area there is no need for capturing, breeding, or handling of them or any other wild animal. I think it is wonderful that so many people are working hard to be the voice, the roar, for these creatures. Thank you for all you do. : )

I applaud you for your research into, and exposure of, this hidden side of “conservation”. The information you are spreading is truly important. I will share this and when I someday have resources to donate to causes like this I will do my part to help humanity choose the first option. Thanks for inspiring me and others to make a difference to the horrible mistreatment of this issue and these animals.

I actually have read every single word in article as well as in the comments from beginning until the end. I see differences in opinions as a blessing to me in a way that it allows right people to voice out, speak up and defend the truths in which after some point it greatly enlightens third party [like me, other commenters & public] to understand the whole absolute integrity and the situation’s actual state of manner at its best.

I’m a 21-year-old Malaysian, completed 2 years of FdSc in Animal Studies at Glyndwr and is now on final year in BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour & Welfare at University at Chester doing [white] tigers as my dissertation subject having a supervisor who coincidentally has been serving his decades in Applied Conservation Genetics. I’m a large felines lover and the main reason why I purposely chose tigers as my topic is simply because they’re the only big cats’ species that are likely to be helped with in my country in regards to conservation and welfare. In all honesty, I can’t see myself to have a proper, satisfying, yielding job over there in ANY areas related to animals (apart from veterinary) which leads me of having intentions to work in the UK beforehand. Alternatively, an idea that I can think of is getting myself involved with mounted police horses or canines but again I really don’t see how I can contribute and make use of what I’ve learned when there’s not even a single academic institution in Peninsular Malaysia offering such courses — and what some more in guidance to careers.

I’ve come here to study by choice since my parents have given permission for me to go for it back in 2012 and I’ve no regrets despite being alone throughout my foreign journey up until today. I may haven’t seen the path yet in terms of job prospects but as for now, I’m hoping that I somewhat lending my hand to the tigers in my country by digging more, unearthing in breadth and width of wisdom in relations to animal husbandry, protection and preservation for my research. But one thing that I’ve acquainted myself with especially when it comes to reading online is to always get authentic sources and trusted written compositions and not to plainly believe what’s stated on a page regardless if it seems to be good and sounds fine. I’ve recently stumbled across a disturbing article by chance from WWF portraying that they’re profiting from near extinction of endangered wildlife using public funds because people are handing them their cash in good faith claiming to be saving those animals in the wild, when they’re actually engaging in trophy hunting. It’s saddening to know there really are misused charity funds but definitely not in this case.

So far, I’m only fond of “Wildcat Sanctuary” & “International Animal Rescue Foundation World Action South Africa” on FaceBook, “blackjaguarwhitetiger” on Instagram [in love with this one!], and PETA. Truly, thank you very much and an utter, genuine appreciation from me to the author, editor, administrator, commenters, and everyone in BigCatRescue organisation. Would definitely support you every now and then!

What about the other three; golden tabby, snow white, and the albino tigers?

I got to know this from The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S) on theguardian website dated on April 2009, and they’re only showing clear, real close-up photos (and mesmerising I would say….) of a few tigers for each four distinct types.

Lets all encourage the passion in protecting wild plant and animal species and their habitats to ensure that nature will be around for future generations to enjoy and to recognize the importance of wildlife and wilderness lands to humans and other species alike. Thanks a lot for sharing.

It is really true it is time to face the issue squarely. There can be no conservation of species without conservation of habitats, and there can be no conservation of habitats without conservation of entire ecosystems; therefore, we are accountable for how our actions affect those ecosystems, in every choice that we make. Conservation. It is not about the white tiger.

that was a truly well written article. i never knew the survival chances of white tigers in the wild and always had this picture of them in the snow hunting for food, now i know. thanks very much for the article.

Lets protects wild plant and animal species and their habitats to ensure that nature will be for future generations to enjoy and to recognize the importance of wildlife and wilderness lands . Excellent article.

Nice comment… Lets all encourage the passion in protecting wild plant and animal species and their habitats to ensure that nature will be around for future generations to enjoy and to recognize the importance of wildlife and wilderness lands to humans and other species alike. Thanks a lot for sharing.

nice comment… Agreed. Imagine what would happen if a mother bred with her son, or a father with his daughter. And imagine if this kept happening for many, many generations. Odds are, the offspring are going to be genetic nightmares. Not only is this practice disgusting, it’s incredibly cruel for the animals.

This is a powerful essay. I personally find this part quite captivating and raising my own consciousness on my responsibility to our environment: “It is time to face the issue squarely. There can be no conservation of species without conservation of habitats, and there can be no conservation of habitats without conservation of entire ecosystems; therefore, we are accountable for how our actions affect those ecosystems, in every choice that we make. Conservation. It is not about the white tiger. It is about us.”

The economic value in conserving natural habitat. Financial profit can be made from tourist revenue, particularly in the tropics where species diversity is high. The cost of repairing damaged ecosystems is considered to be much higher than the cost of conserving natural ecosystems.Measuring the worth of conserving different habitat areas is often criticized as being too utilitarian from a philosophical point of view.

This is the first I’ve heard of all of this. Its horrible!! Its sick. I’m an animal lover and was very emotional when reading this. Those poor tigers that are mutilated because they are not “perfect.” Its disgusting. I hope the ones that are saved are well taken care of. Leave nature alone!! It is the way its sopposed to be, quit messing with it.

The truth is difficult for many people to accept. White tigers are not a species and do not have a native habitat. Tigers do not inhabit any section of the globe in which it would be advantageous for their survival to be white.

that is all very true there are so many extinct species that would have been nice to see well… some of them like the dodo bird maybe but then im sort of thankful dinosaurs and saber tooth cats are gone 😉 🙂 🙁 ;(

Please show me where you got your facts. I’m not like these mindless people and believe everything they think is real. I need to see the studies done to prove your claim. So far your article is just like a post on facebook.

What an irony to see this article use phrases such as “The truth is difficult for many people to accept”. The issue of white tigers is indeed a highly evocative one that stirs deep emotions in people. It turns out it is also one in which statements have been repeated so often and so loudly by so many, especially by Big Cat Rescue, that they have come to be accepted as fact. People have simply assumed that the idea that white tigers are all inbred and lacking in sufficient genetic diversity to be of any value to conservation efforts has been scientifically proven. This article quotes the appropriately named “The White Tiger Fraud”, which was also written for BCR, as stating that the leucistic coloration is deleterious. In point of fact the color perception of the common prey species of tigers is such that the leucistic gene is unlikely to be significantly deleterious. There is simply so much misinformation being propagated about white tigers.
It is understandable if organizations such as Big Cat Rescue spreads this misinformation since they fund raise based off of the emotional reaction they are able to raise in people. It is understandable that the average lay person believes what they are told. It is less understandable to see Encyclopedia Britannica regurgitate this rhetoric with nary a skeptical or intellectually critical glance. Science should trump rhetoric. Thankfully we have reputable institutions such as Scientific American to counter the misinformation. Those wishing to learn the truth about white tiger genetics can visit the exotic genome repository website or check out this link: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/save-the-white-tigers/

“Advocacy for Animals is entirely distinct from Encyclopædia Britannica. Articles posted on Advocacy for Animals are not published in Encyclopædia Britannica. The views expressed on Advocacy for Animals by its editorial staff and contributors are not necessarily those of Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.”

No one knows how many centuries—quite possibly millennia—white tigers lived freely in their natural habitat before human hunters eradicated them. Doesn’t our species now have a responsibility to maintain at least a few white Bengals in good genetic health?

The issue of white tigers is indeed a highly evocative one that stirs deep emotions in people. It turns out it is also one in which statements have been repeated so often and so loudly by so many, especially by Big Cat Rescue, that they have come to be accepted as fact. People have simply assumed that the idea that white tigers are all inbred and lacking in sufficient genetic diversity to be of any value to conservation efforts has been scientifically proven.

I didn’t know white tigers actually did exist so today my knowledge has increased.I have also noticed they much more look like they belong to the dog family and not the cat family.They also look a bit scary!

Has anyone tried to follow the white tiger in the wild i guess no.Nature has its way of rectifying its own mistakes.The white feline must be let out in the wild and more studies should be done.as for inbreeding its just gross.

So why do white tigers have less of a right to exist than the rest of the “pure blood” tigers. They weren’t created in a test tube by man. They were a naturally occurring phenotype. They didn’t choose their path for existence, but they do exist.

Thank you for writing this article and exposing the truth, animals becoming victims of canned hunts, being sold into the exotic pet trade to live out their lives as breeding animals, or being killed soo sad